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The Celtics, now brimming with veteran guards, reached agreement with veteran Keyon Dooling to a one-year minimum contract yesterday.

And that may not be the best news for another former Celtic, who has repeatedly expressed his desire to re-join the team for next season.

As Mickael Pietrus (right, photo by Matthew West) has discovered, there may not be much room left at the inn now that Dooling is coming back. That said, the Celtics have still not spent their $1.9 million biannual exception on anyone.

Their roster, including Dooling and the recent addition of big man Jason Collins, is now one over the league maximum at 16. Guard Jamar Smith will be brought into training camp on a non-guaranteed contract, and guard Dionte Christmas is partially guaranteed.

Pietrus, as a result, will continue to look elsewhere. One other NBA team, in particular, had expressed strong interest -- certainly stronger than the Celtics -- in the swingman.

"We haven't heard from (the Celtics), so we'll move on," said Pietrus' agent, Bill McKandless. "I'm not surprised. If we hear from them Mike will be thrilled, and if not then I guess that's life in the big city.

"Mike is fine," said McKandless. "He's had a great career. He's 30, so he's in his prime. It's not as if he's 36."